14 August 2014
Firstever women’s ward for Waitemata DHB gynaecology patients
Waitemata DHB will build its firstever dedicated women’s inpatient ward – a 15bed gynaecology facility scheduled to open
at North Shore Hospital in mid2015.
Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley said the new ward would greatly improve access to gynaecology services for women
throughout the Waitemata district and result in the very highest quality of care for patients.
It would also deliver muchneeded additional capacity for the fastestgrowing DHB in the country. At an anticipated cost
of $6.2 million, the new facility will see a 30member specialist gynaecological team providing integrated care alongside
the maternity ward on level two.
“At present, we don’t have any dedicated beds for gynaecology patients, meaning women needing these services are
allocated available beds throughout the hospital,” Dr Bramley said.
“This needs to change because we are witnessing increasing demand for gynaecology services as our population continues
to grow faster than that of any other DHB in the country.
“Having our own dedicated ward will allow women to receive gynaecological services in an appropriate environment where
dignity and privacy can be safeguarded and where we can invest in building the skills and experience of a specialist
team.
“We also believe it will be more efficient and productive to have our gynaecology service in a single location, with the
added benefit of those beds currently used by gynaecology patients becoming available for the needs of other surgical
patients.”
Features of the gynaecology ward will include:
• A separate Butterfly Suite – a private area for women and whanau experiencing stillbirth, for grieving families
and for women with palliative care needs
• A fourbay assessment area
• A procedure room allowing the service to provide seamless care without patients needing to be moved around the
hospital
• One isolation room, two single rooms, four double rooms and a fourbedded room
The new ward will be built on what is currently an open roof area and space used for maternity clinics, with
construction to begin in December.
“The creation of dedicated beds will improve access to our services and allow our gynaecology team to provide the best
support to women at what can often be a vulnerable time,” Dr Bramley said.
“The inclusion of the Butterfly Suite in the design is important because it provides a discreet space for staff to have
sensitive discussions with patients and whanau and allows those who may have received difficult news to be together in
privacy.”
The new ward is the latest development in a strategic plan to add 209 beds to Waitemata DHB’s capacity by 2026 based on
projected demand for services.
It follows recent improvements including:
• The opening of ophthalmology services at Waitakere Hospital
• A 40bed stateoftheart Elective Surgery Centre at North Shore Hospital
• A new emergency department and Assessment & Diagnostic Unit at North Shore Hospital
• Waitakere Hospital’s new endoscopy suite – Waitemata DHB’s fourth
• An expanded paediatric unit at Waitakere Hospital, with 10 additional beds
• An 18station community dialysis facility in Mairangi Bay
• A new MRI suite at North Shore Hospital opened in July
Upcoming developments include:
• A significant expansion of Waitakere Hospital’s emergency department
• The refurbishment of Waitakere Hospital’s maternity unit
• A redevelopment of the North Shore Hospital level two podium and the addition of a third floor, including a new
chapel
• A 46bed mental health facility He Puna Waiora on the North Shore Hospital site due for completion in early 2015
ENDS